Sam Thompson and I go way back. When we met as teenagers she was designing dresses and skirts with her father's old ties. Now she has her own line of cool/comfy/chic clothes that is making quite the splash around the globe. I am so happy that she has seen her vision through and excited to see what she comes up with next.
What is your sign?
Leo. Glaringly, obviously Leo.
Sibling? Sexes and
birth order please...
Only child! Also totally obvious.
What time do you set
your alarm for in the morning?
8:30. 9 seemed too indulgent.
How do you take your
caffeine?
Sinful Delight from Irving Farm Coffee Company around the corner from my
apartment.
Tiny bit of half and half and sugar in the raw. Whatever happened to real cream?
What do you do?
I design and manufacture my own lounge wear line for women, LoungeLux.
(The pockets! The sleeves! The hood! I'll take two, please.)
When did you know you
wanted to do it?
My 8th grade yearbook lists my career aspirations as "either fashion
designer or commodities trader" That last part is SUCH a Chicago
answer. But really KNEW, knew? Senior year of high school when I
was sketching evening gowns in my European Civ textbooks. The teachers
were not happy.
What was your first
job in your chosen field?
I did a summer internship for an old school Roman couturier named Fausto Sarli.
Like Valentino, Sr. Sarli is one of the last "dolce
vita" designers. He used to walk around the workroom smoking and
ashing in all the pin trays. No one spoke English. I knew about four word of Italian, one of
which was “pin”. Another important word
was “wait”--it was an incredible education in taking your time and doing things
the right way. Mr. Sarli is one of the
most talented designers of the 20th century and it was an honor to work with a
legend.
What advice would you
give to someone starting out?
Make your mistakes on someone else's dime. Work for other people as
long as you can possibly stand it. And realize that sometimes the worst
bosses are the ones that teach you the most. Even if all you learn is
what NOT to do.
Where do you find your
inspiration?
I try to take elements of haute couture and the designer runway and
incorporate them into what are basically very elegant tracksuits. So,
high fashion for sure, but also random things, like an old Three's Company
(Chrissy got to have all the fun)
and Golden Girl episodes.
(Blanche Devereaux would kill for this outfit.)
There was a great article in Vanity Fair about Liz
Taylor at a slimming spa that had photos of her in a red velour tracksuit.
I want to blow them up and hang them all over my office.
Which websites do you
visit every day?
jennybrowndesigns
(Kuwait is one of my biggest
markets and they are super fashion forward)
Also Lonny to get ideas for my new apartment.
Am still in
mourning for Domino and its resource filled website.
Page Six is a dirty little secret
I don't leave home
without...
Tide wipes. Am a DISASTER.
Blackberry (am on number 5, number four is on the bottom of the Panama Canal. This one I got unlocked in Korea Town. It used to add the Chinese country code to
every number)
Goyard day planner. I find the more obnoxious the accessory, the
more I want to use it. This keeps me on track.
Tiny little hair clips (clipped to bags, key rings, the edges of clothing
and hiding in the bottom of bags. What breadcrumbs were to Hansel and Grethel,
these are to me.) I believe you covered
this.
My favorite places to
shop, eat, travel:
NEW YORK (home)
Shop: Pixie Market on the lower east side has great un-discovered designers and tons of new
stock. It is super inspiring.
Eat: 7th street between
1st and A has anything you could possibly be craving:
Pylos for Greek food
like you would find in a chic neighborhood in Athens, without the rioting
Butter Lane Cupcakes
(way better than Magnolia and they even have classes.)
For unparalleled
swankiness, I love Casa Lever with its enormous Warhols.
Bemelman’s Bar for
the murals
JAIPUR
The Gem Palace for
jewelry. They were court jewelers to the
maharajahs and Viceroy Mountbatten. It’s
an 8th generation family business.
Hot Pink for European
designers working in local techniques.
Great tote bags, scarves and clothing.
NAPLES
Ciro Ricci on Vico Belledone a Chiaia was Jackie
O’s favorite sandal store, they have all of the skins hanging on the wall and
will custom make any design),
LONDON
Liberty, especially
the fabric and home department. They
just did a sick Nike collaboration.
The Churchill War Rooms is my favorite museum- small and intimate and timeless. They also have a
fabulous gift shop.
My boyfriend got me
this Ration Card Apron. I
think it was a hint . . .
Also, you can’t miss Persephone Books. They
feature wonderful out of print writers, especially women, and all of their
books have endpapers and bookmarks done in vintage wallpaper prints. Sign up for their catalogue, it’s the most
charming thing to get in the mail since J. Peterman was at its height.
MEMPHIS
Graceland—very Kelly
Wearstler, a must for every interior design buff.
A. Schwab’s Dry Goods on
Beale Street is a 5 and 10 on acid. They
have the best $2 tank tops, I stock up whenever I’m in town.
Possibly the best bar
in America (with apologies to Chicago’s Zebra Lounge)
has got to be Ernestine & Hazel's which serves late night “soul burgers” and is in an old brothel
that they basically haven’t even repainted since it was shut down. There’s an old claw-foot bathtub in the
bathroom. You get the idea.
Shameless plug- go for
it!
LoungeLux's loungewear is for anyone looking for a down-time option a little more pulled
together than old yoga pants and a tank top. Not that there’s anything wrong with
that. It happens.
We are going to be
featured in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, which launches in October, and
online here and here.
We are also available
at the Julian Gold stores in Texas.
(And how could I not include this? A lifelong lover of tracksuits- Ms. Thompson knows her velours)
.........
Thank you Sam! May need to schedule a trip to NY just to check out all of those places... not to mention Jaipur. How have I not been to Graceland? A crime, I tell you!
Add it to the list...
Xox,
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